The evolution of the Amazonian Kichwa Chacra in the Canton of Loreto, Ecuador

Abstract

The improved Kichwa chakra is the most appropriate production system that adapts to the environmental conditions and subsistence needs of Amazonian Kichwa families. The chakra, chacra, chagra1 or chajara has been the subject of numerous research studies due to its importance for indigenous families. The analyses have been carried out evaluating agricultural aspects, characterizing the production chains of diverse crops, analyzing the knowledge of men and women in the chacras, comparisons of the ways of establishing the chacras according to the Amazonian ethnic groups and various topics according to the researcher's interest. However, there is no record of a study that analyzes the historical-social, economic and environmental aspects, as well as a comparison between native agroforestry systems. The objective of this research was to establish the suitability of the improved farm through the comparative analysis of the identified farm typologies, carried out with a historical-evolutionary analysis where 3 types of farms were recognized: traditional, improved and commercial. The methodologies used were analytical, synthetic, descriptive and meta-analysis. In conclusion, the improved farm is presented as a more viable alternative for the Kichwa families of the Loreto canton in Ecuador, because it maintains the vertical stratification system similar to that of the primary forest, conserves biodiversity, focuses on food security, preserves native seeds and protects the ancestral knowledge of the Amazonian Kichwa culture.